"Tania just joined the company and already closed a ten-million-dollar deal—a tremendous contribution! She absolutely deserves that twenty-thousand-dollar bonus!
"As for Ivy, our so-called Vice President, she's been showing up late and leaving early constantly. She's set a terrible example for the entire company. She's lucky to even get twenty-five dollars!"
The room erupted in laughter.
"So that's why her bonus was so pathetic—she doesn't actually do anything!"
"Everyone knows Vice President Pruitt only got her position by sleeping with Mr. Gilbert. Now she can't even bother to show up on time. She doesn't deserve that title!"
The words crashed over me like waves, and blood rushed to my head. My ears rang.
My phone buzzed. A text from Neal:
"Ivy, don't make a scene. Tania landed a huge deal. The company needs to keep talent like her."
"The bonus was her idea. Just let it go this once—I'll make it up to you privately."
Her idea?
I stared at those words, and something inside me went cold.
So this twenty-five-dollar humiliation was Tania's doing all along.
Fine. If that's how it was going to be, why should I protect his dignity?
"Neal." My voice cut through the noise. "Are you really going to stand there and claim Tania closed that ten-million-dollar deal?"
The room went silent. Every eye turned to me.
Neal's face darkened. "Ivy, that's enough!"
"No, it isn't."
My hand trembled around the microphone, but my voice was steady.
"That ten-million-dollar contract? I pulled three all-nighters drafting the proposal. I made eight trips to the client's office. I spent an entire month in negotiations before they finally signed.
"Tania's contribution? She stamped the paperwork at the end.
"And you're calling that a 'tremendous contribution'?"
I let out a cold laugh, not bothering to hide my contempt.
"Oh, and all those times I was supposedly 'late' or 'left early'? I was out meeting with partners, courting clients, bringing in resources for this company."
My words landed like a bomb. The room dissolved into chaos.
"No way. Isn't Vice President Pruitt just a pretty face who slept her way up? You're telling me she closed a ten-million-dollar deal?"
Every word was a needle in my heart.
They were right to doubt me. For five years, I'd let Neal take credit for every deal I closed—all to build his reputation, to make him look like the visionary founder everyone admired.
And what did I get? Everyone saw me as a trophy girlfriend who'd ridden his coattails to a title I didn't earn.
I'd done it because I loved him. I never bothered to set the record straight.
But I was done staying silent.
Then came the sound of soft sobbing.
Tania pressed her hands to her face, eyes glistening with tears, the picture of wounded innocence.
"Mr. Gilbert, I'm so sorry—this is all my fault!"
She pulled out a bank card, holding it toward me with trembling hands.
"I'll give the twenty thousand back to Vice President Pruitt right now. Please don't blame her anymore. I couldn't bear it if I came between you two."
I scoffed and knocked the card out of her hand.
"Drop the act, Tania. You think twenty thousand dollars is going to make this go away? Do I look like a beggar to you?"
I stepped closer, my voice sharp as a blade.
"That ten-million-dollar deal comes with a ten percent commission. That's one million dollars.
"When exactly were you planning to pay me back?"
The number hit the room like a shockwave.
Tania's face went white as paper. She stood frozen, trembling, unable to form a single word.
Then her body swayed. Her eyes rolled back, and she crumpled toward the floor.
"Tania!"
Neal rushed forward and caught her in his arms, cradling her like she might shatter.
When he looked at me, his eyes burned with fury.
"Ivy, you've gone too far! You know Tania has a congenital heart condition, and you deliberately pushed her like this? I can't believe I ever trusted you!"
